Pipe support system and method for use in underground pipe ramming

ABSTRACT

A method of driving a pipe into the ground includes steps of placing a pipe to be driven into the ground onto a series of at least two spaced skids each having an upwardly opening cradle thereon so that the pipe spans and is supported by the skid cradles, one skid proximate a front end of the pipe and the other skid proximate a rear end of the pipe, each skid including a vertical jack mechanism for raising and lowering the pipe supported by the skid, positioning the pipe in a position for ramming into the ground by operating the vertical jack mechanisms as needed to raise the pipe into the ramming position, and ramming the pipe using an impact ramming tool applied to push the pipe into the ground.

This application claims priority of U.S. provisional application No.61/204,601 filed Jan. 8, 2009.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for positioning anunderground pipe for a pipe ramming operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pipe ramming is a widely used method for installing underground metalpipes especially in large sizes such as 2+ feet in diameter. In one suchprocess, a pneumatic impact tool engages one end opening of the pipelineand forces it through the ground either horizontally or on a verticalgrade that departs from horizontal. Wentworth U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,270,Apr. 9, 1996, exemplifies a pneumatic impact tool preferred for use inpipe ramming of large diameter iron and steel pipes and is incorporatedby reference herein. Pipe lengths of up to 40 feet are rammed into theground after which a further pipe section is welded to the exposed endof the installed pipe, and the ramming tool is then relocated to theexposed end of the new pipe section, after which ramming is resumed. Tomove the impact tool and pipe sections, the arm of an excavator istypically used to raise and lower components into place.

In the event a vertical grade is to be maintained, current practice usesboards or beams inserted underneath the pipe section being rammed, withwedges hammered into place by hand in order to angle the pipe section asneeded. This is a difficult and laborious process and is limited in thescope of changes in vertical grade (up/down) and horizontal grade(left/right) that can be made. The present invention seeks to improve onthis procedure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A skid according to the invention includes a frame which is supported onthe ground at the work site. A cradle assembly is mounted on the frame.The cradle assembly includes a cradle suitable for supporting a pipesection by its outer surface and a trough or second frame in which thecradle is slidingly disposed. A vertical jack mechanism is provided onthe frame for raising and lowering the cradle assembly, and a horizontaljack mechanism is provided in the second frame for sliding the cradleback and forth. The jack mechanisms are preferably hydraulic cylinders.In a preferred embodiment, a pair of vertical hydraulic cylinders areprovided at opposite ends of the frame, which cylinders are connected toopposite ends of the trough or second frame so that the cradle assemblycan move up and down within a range of positions determined by thelength of the hydraulic pistons.

According to a method of the invention, a series of skids of theinvention are positioned in spaced locations, preferably parallel to oneanother, to support a pipe section during pipe ramming. A minimum of twoskids are used, one each to support the front and rear of the pipesection, and if needed in view of pipe length, a third skid supports thepipe section at its middle. The vertical jacks of the skid mechanismsare operated to raise or lower the cradle assembly and pipe section asneeded to achieve a desired position and grade. This is preferably doneafter a pipe section has been placed on the cradles of the skids, sincethe weight of the pipe section is likely to cause settling of the skids.If the pipe section needs to be inserted at a desired horizontal angle,one or more of the second hydraulic cylinders are operated to change theside to side angle at which the pipe section is to be inserted at. Theseand other aspects of the invention are described further in the detaileddescription which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a pipe support system of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of a skid used in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the pipe support system of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 4 is a lengthwise sectional view of the pipe support system ofFIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view partly in section of an alternative cradleassembly of the invention using an electric motor; and

FIG. 5A is a perspective view partly in section of a further embodimentwherein the vertical jack assembly is manually actuated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention provides an apparatus 10having two or more skids 14 that support and position large ductilepipes or pipe sections 12 (such as iron or steel pipe that may rangefrom 12 inches to 160 inches in diameter and be any range of lengths,from 5′ to 180′during a pipe ramming operation during which a rammingtool 13 such as a pneumatic impact rammer engages the pipe 12 at itsrear end and is operated to push the pipe 12 progressively into theground. This compares with the known method wherein pipe sections lyingon the ground of an earthen entry ramp are supported by H-beams orboards and the like at front and rear. According to the invention,before moving the first pipe section 12 into place for ramming, a seriesof skids 14 are placed in the entry zone 19 in spaced positionspreferably along a line perpendicular to the entry surface 11, generallya vertical dirt wall, such as along the side of a railroad track bed 15,highway, canal, or under a building as shown in FIG. 1, but the startingposition could define an acute angle relative to the entry surface 11 ineither both or the up-down and side to side directions.

In a preferred form of the invention, at least three skids 14 areprovided, one at or near the front end of the pipe section 12, one at ornear the rear end, and the third at a central position preferablyequally spaced from the others. Three skids 14 are typical for a 40′long, 3′ diameter pipe section 12. In some cases four or more skids 14are used, two at the ends and the others at a series of intermediatepositions as needed to support and guide the pipe 12 being rammed. Theramming tool 13 is mounted in the rear end of the pipe section 12 andmay benefit initially from being supported from beneath by a skid 14according to the invention if available. Once the bore is under way, theramming tool 13 is suspended vertically by its engagement with the rearend opening of the pipe 12.

Deployment of the system of the invention is carried out with relativeease. The skids 14 are lowered into the desired positions using a craneor excavator arm. The position of the pipe 12 is adjusted as neededusing the skids 14 as described hereafter.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, each pipe skid 14 includes a stationary frame 16that is positioned transversely or approximately so to the line alongwhich the skids are set, i.e., in the lengthwise direction of pipe 12 inits starting position. The frame 16 has a movable frame 18 mountedtherein which movable frame 18 supports a cradle 20 shaped to supportthe rounded external surface of pipe 12. Cradle 20 is mounted forsliding movement along upper edges of a pair of side panels 17 of frame18. Frame 18 forms a rectangular trough 21 made from welded steelplates. Cradle 20 rests in the open upper end of trough 21.

Cradle 20 preferably has an upwardly opening concave or U-shaped surface22. A rounded profile of a curvature equal or close to that of the pipeto be supported is preferred on surface 22 for ease of use.

Skid 14 further includes a pair of vertical hydraulic jack mechanisms 24for raising and lowering the frame 18 and cradle 20 at opposite ends aswell as pipe 12 supported thereon. Vertical jack mechanisms 24 areprovided at opposite ends of frame 18 so that frame 18 and cradle 20 canbe raised and lowered evenly. Each vertical jack mechanism 24 comprisesa hydraulic cylinder 26 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. In addition tosupporting pipe 12 at a desired height, vertical jack mechanisms 24 canbe used to change the grade angle of pipe 12 as it is being driven intothe ground by raising or lowering one end of pipe 12.

A horizontal hydraulic jack mechanism 25 is mounted in trough 21 ofmoveable frame 18 for moving cradle 20 horizontally back and forth inthe lengthwise direction of the frame 18. Horizontal jack mechanism 25is connected to frame 18 at its near end 31 and to cradle 20 at its farend 32 by means of pins 33. In this embodiment both the vertical andhorizontal jack mechanisms 24 and 25 are powered by a hydraulic powerpack comprises of a gas, electrical, or diesel motor mounted onto ahydraulic pump system to pump fluid to the valves and into the hydrauliccylinders 26. Moving the rod 30 of hydraulic cylinder 26 in horizontaljack mechanism 25 back and forth causes the cradle 20 to movehorizontally inside the trough 21, sliding in its lengthwise direction.This action is used to redirect the angle at which pipe 12 is driven ina horizontal plane.

As shown, it is preferred that a pair of vertical jack mechanisms 24 areprovided at opposite ends of frame 18 so that cradle 20 may be raisedand lowered evenly.

The rods 30 of the cylinders 26 of vertical jack mechanisms 24 areattached by pins 34 to the moveable frame 18 via apertures 35 and pins36 to the stationary frame 16 via apertures 37, whereby extending rods30 of the vertical jack mechanisms 24 raise trough 21 together withcradle 20 and pipe 12 supported by cradle 20. Valving is provided at thehydraulic power pack so that the hydraulic cylinders 26 of vertical jackmechanisms 24 of each skid 14 operate simultaneously in the samedirection, gently raising or lowering the cradle 20. When the cradle 20is supporting a pipe 12, the pipe 12 at that location can be eitherraised or lowered, or pushed or pulled to one side by the horizontaltilting mechanism embodied in horizontal jack mechanism 25. Pneumaticcylinders could also be used for the vertical and horizontal jackmechanisms 24 and 25 instead of hydraulic cylinders 26 depending on theweight to be supported.

The cylinders 26 of each jack mechanism 24 and 25 are connected to ahydraulic power pack (not shown) which has control levers for operatingeach cylinder 26, two levers per skid 14, six total in the examplewherein three skids 14 are provided to support each pipe 12. One leverof each pair operates the cylinders 26 of the vertical jack mechanisms24 and the other lever operates the cylinder 26 of the horizontal jackmechanism 25 which moves the cradle horizontally. It will be understoodthat terms such as horizontal and vertical as used herein do not implyextreme precision, and in many cases refer to approximately horizontalor vertical (“upright”) positions. It is a strength of the presentinvention that the skids do not have to be placed on level ground;differences in elevation can be compensated for by adjusting theposition of the cradle. The pair of cylinders that control vertical andhorizontal movement of the cradle 20 are valved to operate in tandemwhen both of the corresponding control levers have been manually moved.A vertical grade is achieved by having one end of the pipe section 12 ata different elevation than the other.

In typical operation, once the skids 14 are positioned as desired, theend (front and rear) pair of cradles 20 are raised vertically toposition the pipe correctly on the desired grade and alignment. The pipesection 12 is then set down with its centerline on the skids 14 andalong the boring line defined by an imaginary line connecting thecenters of the cradles. The center cradle if present is then raised tomatch the grade and alignment of the pipe for starting the pipe rammingoperation. The ramming tool 13 is then lowered into proximity with theopen rear end of the pipe section 12, and the nose of the tool 13 isengaged in the open rear end of the pipe section 12, after which rammingcan begin by supplying compressed air to the impact ramming tool 13. Apipe ramming adapter may be interposed between the rear end of the pipesection 12 and the nose of the ramming tool 13.

To angle the pipe section 12 from side to side, the preferred procedureis to drop the center cradle(s) 20 and then actuate the second(horizontal) cylinder to achieve the desired alignment. It is possibleto actuate the cylinders 26 for the front and rear skids at the sametime in opposite directions to skew the pipe section right or left.

When the pipe section is driven in all the way, the cradles 20 of theskids 14 are maintained in their present position to receive the nextsection of pipe in the same desired grade and alignment. The front endof the new pipe section is welded to the rear end of the one precedingit, and the ramming tool is positioned in the open rear end of the newpipe section. The ramming tool 13 is then run so that the pipe stringincluding both pipe sections 12 and any sections 12 added earlier arerammed into the ground. The process is repeated until the bore iscompleted, after which the tool and skids, along with the hydraulicpower pack, are loaded onto a truck for transport or lifted to a newwork site a short distance away.

It will be understood that the foregoing description is of preferredexemplary embodiments of the invention, and that the invention is notlimited to the specific forms described and illustrated. Modificationsmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

For example, the cylinder located on the second frame could be omittedif no means of sliding the cradle horizontally is needed, or a purelymechanical system such as shown in FIG. 5A could replace any of thepowered jacks described. In FIG. 5, for example, an electrically drivensystem is used to provide electrically powered jacks 24A and 26A thatfunction for the same purpose as the hydraulic jacks 24 and 26. In theexample shown, an electric motor 51 is connected to a gear box 52 sothat a rack and pinion connection can be used to extend and retract ashaft 53 in a vertical direction to raise and lower cradle 20. Actuationof the horizontal jack can likewise substitute an electrically poweredcylinder.

FIG. 5A shows a further alternative wherein the electric motor isreplaced by a manual hand crank 60 and a gearbox 62 whereby the verticaljack 24B is raised and lowered manually depending upon the direction ofrotation of crank 60. Horizontal jack 26B may also be operated manuallyin a similar fashion. The apparatus of the invention can be used forstabilizing other items or devices on the ground, for example ahorizontal cable pulling machine used in earth boring.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of positioning a pipe for piperamming into the ground comprising the steps of: placing the pipe to bedriven into the ground onto a series of at least a first skid and asecond skid that are spaced apart from one another, wherein each of theskids has an upwardly opening cradle thereon so that the pipe spans andis supported by each of the upwardly opening cradles, the first skid ispositioned proximate to a front end of the pipe, the second skid ispositioned proximate to a rear end of the pipe, and each of the skidsincludes a first frame, a second frame slidably mounted on the firstframe, the second frame forms a rectangular trough having an open upperend, the upwardly opening cradle rests in the open upper end of therectangular trough of the second frame, a first vertical jack mechanismattached to a first end of the first frame and a first end of the secondframe, and a second vertical jack mechanism attached to a second end ofthe first frame and a second end of the second frame, wherein the firstand second vertical jack mechanisms raise and lower the second frame andthe upwardly opening cradle; and positioning the pipe in a position forramming into the ground by operating the first and second vertical jackmechanisms of the first skid and the second skid as needed to raise orlower the front end of the pipe supported by the upwardly opening cradleof the first skid or the rear end of the pipe supported by the upwardlyopening cradle of the second skid.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereineach of the skids includes a horizontal jack mechanism attached to thesecond frame and the upwardly opening cradle, wherein the horizontaljack mechanism moves the upwardly opening cradle in a horizontaldirection.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of positioning thepipe in a position for ramming into the ground further comprisesoperating the horizontal jack mechanism of the first skid and the secondskid as needed to horizontally move the front end or the rear end of thepipe.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of operatingthe horizontal jack mechanism of the first skid or the second skid tochange a horizontal position of the upwardly opening cradle of the firstskid or the second skid so that the pipe extends at a differenthorizontal angle.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the stepof operating the first and second vertical jack mechanisms of the firstskid or the second skid to change a vertical position of the upwardlyopening cradle of the first skid or the second skid so that the pipeextends at a different vertical angle.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the step of positioning one or more intermediate skidsbetween the first skid and the second skid.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising the steps of: engaging a ramming tool with the rearend of the pipe; and ramming the pipe into the ground.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, further comprising the steps of: disengaging the ramming toolfrom the rear end of the pipe; placing a second pipe to be driven intothe ground onto the first skid and the second skid; positioning thesecond pipe in the position for ramming into the ground by operating thefirst and second vertical jack mechanisms of the first skid and thesecond skid as needed to raise or lower the front end or the rear end ofthe pipe; attaching the front end of the second pipe to the rear end ofthe pipe; engaging the ramming tool with the rear end of the secondpipe; and ramming the second pipe into the ground.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein: each of the skids includes a horizontal jack mechanismattached to the second frame and the upwardly opening cradle, whereinthe horizontal jack mechanism moves the upwardly opening cradle in ahorizontal direction; and the step of positioning the second pipe in theposition for ramming into the ground further comprises operating thehorizontal jack mechanism of the first skid and the second skid asneeded to horizontally move the front end or the rear end of the secondpipe.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first frame standsstationary on the ground.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein: the firstvertical jack mechanism is mounted within a first three-sided column onthe first end of the first frame and attached to a lower portion of thefirst three-sided column; the second vertical jack mechanism is mountedwithin a second three-sided column on the second end of the first frameand attached to a lower portion of the second three-sided column; thefirst end of the second frame extends into an open side of the firstthree-sided column and the first vertical jack mechanism is attached toan upper portion of the first end of the second frame; and the secondend of the second frame extends into an open side of the secondthree-sided column and the second vertical jack mechanism is attached toan upper portion of the second end of the second frame.
 12. The methodof claim 1, wherein each vertical jack mechanism is hydraulicallyoperated, electrically operated or manually operated.
 13. The method ofclaim 1, wherein each of the skids is positioned in a hole.
 14. A methodfor positioning a piece of earth boring equipment comprising the stepsof: placing the piece of earth boring equipment onto a series of atleast a first skid and a second skid that are spaced apart from oneanother, wherein each of the skids has an upwardly opening cradlethereon so that the piece of earth boring equipment is supported by eachof the upwardly opening cradles, the first skid is positioned proximateto a front end of the piece of earth boring equipment, the second skidis positioned proximate to a rear end of the piece of earth boringequipment, and each of the skids includes a first frame, a second frameslidably mounted on the first frame, the second frame forms arectangular trough having an open upper end, the upwardly opening cradlerests in the open upper end of the rectangular trough of the secondframe, a first vertical jack mechanism attached to a first end of thefirst frame and a first end of the second frame, and a second verticaljack mechanism attached to a second end of the first frame and a secondend of the second frame, wherein the first and second vertical jackmechanism raises and lower the second frame and the upwardly openingcradle; and positioning the piece of earth boring equipment by operatingthe first and second vertical jack mechanisms of the first skid and thesecond skid as needed to raise or lower the front end of the piece ofearth boring equipment supported by the first skid or the rear end ofthe piece of earth boring equipment supported by the second skid to adesired position.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the desiredposition is a level position above the ground.
 16. The method of claim14, wherein each vertical jack mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinderthat raises and lowers the upwardly opening cradle.
 17. The method ofclaim 14, wherein: each of the skids includes a horizontal jackmechanism attached to the second frame and the upwardly opening cradle,wherein the horizontal jack mechanism moves the upwardly opening cradlein a horizontal direction; and the step of positioning the piece ofearth boring equipment in the desired position further comprisesoperating the horizontal jack mechanism of the first skid and the secondskid as needed to horizontally move the front end or the rear end of thepiece of earth boring equipment in a straight horizontal direction thatis parallel to a lengthwise direction of the upwardly opening cradle.18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of operating thehorizontal jack mechanism of the first skid or the second skid to changea horizontal position of the upwardly opening cradle of the first skidor the second skid so that the pipe extends at a different horizontalangle.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the skids ispositioned in a hole.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein each verticaljack mechanism is hydraulically operated, electrically operated ormanually operated.
 21. The method of claim 14, further comprising thestep of operating the first and second vertical jack mechanisms of thefirst skid or the second skid to change a vertical position of theupwardly opening cradle of the first skid or the second skid so that thepipe extends at a different vertical angle.
 22. The method of claim 14,wherein: the first frame stands stationary on the ground; the secondframe forms a rectangular trough having an open upper end; and theupwardly opening cradle rests in the open upper end of the rectangulartrough of the second frame.
 23. The method of claim 14, wherein: thefirst vertical jack mechanism is mounted within a first three-sidedcolumn on the first end of the first frame and attached to a lowerportion of the first three-sided column; the second vertical jackmechanism is mounted within a second three-sided column on the secondend of the first frame and attached to a lower portion of the secondthree-sided column; the first end of the second frame extends into anopen side of the first three-sided column and the first vertical jackmechanism is attached to an upper portion of the first end of the secondframe; and the second end of the second frame extends into an open sideof the second three-sided column and the second vertical jack mechanismis attached to an upper portion of the second end of the second frame.24. A method of positioning a pipe for pipe ramming into the groundcomprising the steps of: placing the pipe to be driven into the groundonto a series of at least a first skid and a second skid that are spacedapart from one another, wherein each of the skids has an upwardlyopening cradle thereon so that the pipe spans and is supported by eachof the upwardly opening cradles, the first skid is positioned proximateto a front end of the pipe, the second skid is positioned proximate to arear end of the pipe, and each of the skids includes a first frame, asecond frame slidably mounted on the first frame, the upwardly openingcradle disposed on the second frame, a first vertical jack mechanismattached to a first end of the first frame and a first end of the secondframe, a second vertical jack mechanism attached to a second end of thefirst frame and a second end of the second frame, wherein the first andsecond vertical jack mechanisms raise and lower the second frame and theupwardly opening cradle, and a horizontal jack mechanism attached to thesecond frame and the upwardly opening cradle, wherein the horizontaljack mechanism moves the upwardly opening cradle in a horizontaldirection; and positioning the pipe in a position for ramming into theground by operating the first and second vertical jack mechanisms of thefirst skid and the second skid as needed to raise or lower the front endof the pipe supported by the upwardly opening cradle of the first skidor the rear end of the pipe supported by the upwardly opening cradle ofthe second skid.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein each vertical jackmechanism is hydraulically operated, electrically operated or manuallyoperated.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein each of the skids ispositioned in a hole.
 27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step ofpositioning the pipe in a position for ramming into the ground furthercomprises operating the horizontal jack mechanism of the first skid andthe second skid as needed to horizontally move the front end or the rearend of the pipe.
 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the stepof operating the horizontal jack mechanism of the first skid or thesecond skid to change a horizontal position of the upwardly openingcradle of the first skid or the second skid so that the pipe extends ata different horizontal angle.
 29. The method of claim 24, furthercomprising the step of operating the first and second vertical jackmechanisms of the first skid or the second skid to change a verticalposition of the upwardly opening cradle of the first skid or the secondskid so that the pipe extends at a different vertical angle.
 30. Themethod of claim 24, further comprising the step of positioning one ormore intermediate skids between the first skid and the second skid. 31.The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of: engaging aramming tool with the rear end of the pipe; and ramming the pipe intothe ground.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of:disengaging the ramming tool from the rear end of the pipe; placing asecond pipe to be driven into the ground onto the first skid and thesecond skid; positioning the second pipe in the position for ramminginto the ground by operating the first and second vertical jackmechanisms of the first skid and the second skid as needed to raise orlower the front end or the rear end of the pipe; attaching the front endof the second pipe to the rear end of the pipe; engaging the rammingtool with the rear end of the second pipe; and ramming the second pipeinto the ground.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step ofpositioning the second pipe in the position for ramming into the groundfurther comprises operating the horizontal jack mechanism of the firstskid and the second skid as needed to horizontally move the front end orthe rear end of the second pipe.
 34. The method of claim 24, wherein:the first frame stands stationary on the ground; the second frame formsa rectangular trough having an open upper end; and the upwardly openingcradle rests in the open upper end of the rectangular trough of thesecond frame.
 35. The method of claim 24, wherein: the first verticaljack mechanism is mounted within a first three-sided column on the firstend of the first frame and attached to a lower portion of the firstthree-sided column; the second vertical jack mechanism is mounted withina second three-sided column on the second end of the first frame andattached to a lower portion of the second three-sided column; the firstend of the second frame extends into an open side of the firstthree-sided column and the first vertical jack mechanism is attached toan upper portion of the first end of the second frame; and the secondend of the second frame extends into an open side of the secondthree-sided column and the second vertical jack mechanism is attached toan upper portion of the second end of the second frame.
 36. A method ofpositioning a pipe for pipe ramming into the ground comprising the stepsof: placing the pipe to be driven into the ground onto a series of atleast a first skid and a second skid that are spaced apart from oneanother, wherein each of the skids has an upwardly opening cradlethereon so that the pipe spans and is supported by each of the upwardlyopening cradles, the first skid is positioned proximate to a front endof the pipe, the second skid is positioned proximate to a rear end ofthe pipe, and each of the skids includes a first frame, a second frameslidably mounted on the first frame, the upwardly opening cradledisposed on the second frame, a first vertical jack mechanism mountedwithin a first three-sided column on a first end of the first frame andattached to a lower portion of the first three-sided column, and asecond vertical jack mechanism mounted within a second three-sidedcolumn on a second end of the first frame and attached to a lowerportion of the second three-sided column, the first end of the secondframe extends into an open side of the first three-sided column and thefirst vertical jack mechanism is attached to an upper portion of thefirst end of the second frame, the second end of the second frameextends into an open side of the second three-sided column and thesecond vertical jack mechanism is attached to an upper portion of thesecond end of the second frame, wherein the first and second verticaljack mechanisms raise and lower the second frame and the upwardlyopening cradle; and positioning the pipe in a position for ramming intothe ground by operating the first and second vertical jack mechanisms ofthe first skid and the second skid as needed to raise or lower the frontend of the pipe supported by the upwardly opening cradle of the firstskid or the rear end of the pipe supported by the upwardly openingcradle of the second skid.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein each ofthe skids includes a horizontal jack mechanism attached to the secondframe and the upwardly opening cradle, wherein the horizontal jackmechanism moves the upwardly opening cradle in a horizontal direction.38. The method of claim 36, wherein each vertical jack mechanism ishydraulically operated, electrically operated or manually operated. 39.The method of claim 36, wherein each of the skids is positioned in ahole.
 40. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of positioning thepipe in the position for ramming into the ground further comprisesoperating the horizontal jack mechanisms of the first skid and thesecond skid as needed to horizontally move the front end or the rear endof the pipe.
 41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step ofoperating the horizontal jack mechanism of the first skid or the secondskid to change a horizontal position of the upwardly opening cradle ofthe first skid or the second skid so that the pipe extends at adifferent horizontal angle.
 42. The method of claim 36, furthercomprising the step of operating the first and second vertical jackmechanisms of the first skid or the second skid to change a verticalposition of the upwardly opening cradle of the first skid or the secondskid so that the pipe extends at a different vertical angle.
 43. Themethod of claim 36, further comprising the step of positioning one ormore intermediate skids between the first skid and the second skid. 44.The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of: engaging aramming tool with the rear end of the pipe; and ramming the pipe intothe ground.
 45. The method of claim 44, further comprising the steps of:disengaging the ramming tool from the rear end of the pipe; placing asecond pipe to be driven into the ground onto the first skid and thesecond skid; positioning the second pipe in the position for ramminginto the ground by operating the first and second vertical jackmechanisms of the first skid and the second skid as needed to raise orlower the front end or the rear end of the pipe; attaching the front endof the second pipe to the rear end of the pipe; engaging the rammingtool with the rear end of the second pipe; and ramming the second pipeinto the ground.
 46. The method of claim 45, wherein: each of the skidsincludes a horizontal jack mechanism attached to the second frame andthe upwardly opening cradle, wherein the horizontal jack mechanism movesthe upwardly opening cradle in a horizontal direction; and the step ofpositioning the second pipe in the position for ramming into the groundfurther comprises operating the horizontal jack mechanism of the firstskid and the second skid as needed to horizontally move the front end orthe rear end of the second pipe.
 47. The method of claim 36, wherein:the first frame stands stationary on the ground; the second frame formsa rectangular trough having an open upper end; and the upwardly openingcradle rests in the open upper end of the rectangular trough of thesecond frame.
 48. A method of positioning a pipe for pipe ramming intothe ground comprising the steps of: placing the pipe to be driven intothe ground onto a series of at least a first skid and a second skid thatare spaced apart from one another, wherein each of the skids has anupwardly opening cradle thereon so that the pipe spans and is supportedby each of the upwardly opening cradles, the first skid is positionedproximate to a front end of the pipe, the second skid is positionedproximate to a rear end of the pipe, and each of the skids includes afirst frame, a second frame forming a rectangular trough having an openupper end, the upwardly opening cradle rests in the open upper end ofthe rectangular trough of the second frame, a horizontal jack mechanismattached to the second frame and the upwardly opening cradle, a firstvertical jack mechanism mounted within a first three-sided column on afirst end of the first frame and attached to a lower portion of thefirst three-sided column, and a second vertical jack mechanism mountedwithin a second three-sided column on a second end of the first frameand attached to a lower portion of the second three-sided column, afirst end of the second frame extends into an open side of the firstthree-sided column and the first vertical jack mechanism is attached toan upper portion of the first end of the second frame, a second end ofthe second frame extends into an open side of the second three-sidedcolumn and the second vertical jack mechanism is attached to an upperportion of the second end of the second frame, wherein the first andsecond vertical jack mechanisms raise and lower the second frame and theupwardly opening cradle, and the horizontal jack mechanism moves theupwardly opening cradle in a horizontal direction; and positioning thepipe in a position for ramming into the ground by operating the firstand second vertical jack mechanisms of the first skid and the secondskid as needed to raise or lower the front end of the pipe supported bythe upwardly opening cradle of the first skid or the rear end of thepipe supported by the upwardly opening cradle of the second skid, andoperating the horizontal jack mechanisms of the first skid and thesecond skid as needed to horizontally move the front end or the rear endof the pipe.
 49. The method of claim 48, wherein each vertical jackmechanism is hydraulically operated, electrically operated or manuallyoperated.
 50. The method of claim 48, wherein each of the skids ispositioned in a hole.
 51. The method of claim 48, further comprising thestep of operating the horizontal jack mechanism of the first skid or thesecond skid to change a horizontal position of the upwardly openingcradle of the first skid or the second skid so that the pipe extends ata different horizontal angle.
 52. The method of claim 48, furthercomprising the step of operating the first and second vertical jackmechanisms of the first skid or the second skid to change a verticalposition of the upwardly opening cradle of the first skid or the secondskid so that the pipe extends at a different vertical angle.
 53. Themethod of claim 48, further comprising the step of positioning one ormore intermediate skids between the first skid and the second skid. 54.The method of claim 48, further comprising the steps of: engaging aramming tool with the rear end of the pipe; and ramming the pipe intothe ground.
 55. The method of claim 54, further comprising the steps of:disengaging the ramming tool from the rear end of the pipe; placing asecond pipe to be driven into the ground onto the first skid and thesecond skid; positioning the second pipe in the position for ramminginto the ground by operating the first and second vertical jackmechanisms of the first skid and the second skid as needed to raise orlower the front end or the rear end of the pipe; attaching the front endof the second pipe to the rear end of the pipe; engaging the rammingtool with the rear end of the second pipe; and ramming the second pipeinto the ground.
 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the step ofpositioning the second pipe in the position for ramming into the groundfurther comprises operating the horizontal jack mechanisms of the firstskid and the second skid as needed to horizontally move the front end orthe rear end of the second pipe.
 57. The method of claim 48, wherein thefirst frame stands stationary on the ground.